The Sun. — London, England, 1808-10-29 00:00:00

g wen is beneficence, and how much it er*eges the gratitude of those who receive its gifts !• 1. Ma drid, thus, worthy Capital of Spain, thus, ye brave . men of the 2d of May, the hearts of Aragon shall become yr)ur rampart and, kaefence ;- though they have conquered, these yet reit'iaiiis much to con quer—the struggle is yet far frog 661iq at an end, and we still fail to perceive-in our Capital the best of Kings, FERDINAND, who is still a prisoner. Follow up, noble souls, your praise-worthy deeds and should I fall in defence of your hearths, and of our comm , ,n country, I shall die invoking blessings on your beneficent hands, and pray Heaven to render them always happy. (Signed) " Head-quarters at Saragossa, Sept. 3o " PA LAFOX." HAVANNAH, JULY O.—The following Address has been presented to the Gore no; by the Fran ciscan Friar; : " SEIGNOR PRESIDENT, GOVERNOR ANT) CAPTAIN GENERAL (F THIS CITY AND TIIE ISLAND Or CUBA. " The precautions which you have just adopted to guard against an attack on the part of France, as sures us of the truth of the reports which are in cir culation, of the unexampled perfidy' with which the Emperor of the French, abusing the frankness and good faith of our ever loved FERDINAND VII. has detained him in France, and subjected his kingdom to all the horrors of war, respeaing neither age, sex, nor rank, and even stretching forth his sacrilegious hand towards the saneluary. We should think our selves guilty of the highest crime, did we suffer to pass unnoticed so barbarous a proceeding. We. are Spaniards ; and there runs in our veins •not only the blood of those heroes who have so nobly adhered to their Sovereign, but also that of those who have fallen, and at this moment are falling, vielims to the ferocity of MURAT and the furies who accom pany him. Though, from our procession, we may not appear qualified , for any other. task than that of directing the spiritual concerns of ; our brethren, and supplicating God, between the porch and the altar, to lqpk doyen with an eye of compasionQll his peo ple nevertheless, while we are not unmindful of that duty, and will consomly discharge it, we ear nestly entreat that you will call upon us, and allow DE to be among the first to be employed in any ser vice, however difficult and laborious, even that of carrying arms, in case of necessity, in the defence of our country. We will meet death with pleasure, and give an exemplary proof to those who survive us, that we have acknowledged no other religion than that of Jesus Christ„ as it is -pabtessed in the Catholic Apostolic Roman Churg, nel'other King than FERDINAND VII. and nolhterests- but those of Spain. May God, &c." VALENCIA, SErr. 27.—The condition of the un fortunate inhabitants of Barcelona • becomes daily more calamitous: The French have carried oil the provisions, and particularly the biscuit, which they had in Monjui. In order to replenish their maga zines there, they have resorted to the barbarous sys tem of domiciliary visits. They searched every house in which they expected there was any quantity of provisions, and carried -away whatever they found, pretending, however, that they meant to pay for them. It is almost impossible to conceive the'pitch to which those miscreants carry their villainy.— Among the houses which they entered for the pur pose of seizing provisions, was that of a corn-dealer, who had a quantity of wheat to the value of 4000 piastei . s. They rentoved the grain, and paid him for it in ready money; but two or three days after, tiley imposed a general contribution, and rated Ow torn-dealer at 6000 piastres; so that he lost the whole of his wheat, and 2000 piastres. This is a specimen: of the happiness which the Drench troops dispense, in the name of their master, to every na tion that has the misfortune to admit those benevo lent. guests. We are assured that GenerarEzpELETA and the Intendant are prisoners in the'rditadel of Barcelona. The cauie or their confinement IK:tiot known ; but it is supposed to have arisen from the French General having demanded supplies, which it was totally im possible 1(4 them to furnish. At a period when all the movements and disposi tions of the Frraich armies that infest our peninsula seem to indicate a retreat, or rather a disgraceful flight, it may not be improper that we should point out the different roads by which they may effect that purpose, should they escape the vigilance of our experienced Generals. The first and most practicable e r9fitteleading from France to Madrid, runs about e o - 2:e leagues through the Pyrennees before it descendtti : to the plains, be t Ween Mondragon and Vittorio, In this interme diate space,/ ao army is exposed to attack at every Step they can take. The second entrance into Spain leads from Per pignan to Barcelona, passing through Bellegarde, Junqu , , , ra, and the well-known passes of Figueras and Gerona. This road rubs upwards of 50 miles through the .V . ),rennees, and there are many passes on it where 100 peasants could stop a whole army. From Bellegarde to Gerona, neither provisions nor carriages are 'to be met with. The third road leads from Bayonne to Navarre, passing through San Juan del Pie del Puerto and Pampeluna. This ;5 a dangerous and almost im practicable road, running chiefly among steep and rugged mountains, which are not in any way passa ble, except from May to ok:tot - ler. There is a fourth road leading from Tarbes, in the Province of Baygorri, to Saragossa, over the moun tainous ridges which separate that Province from Ar ragon. ilut this is more properly a toot-path for the dry seaion, than a toad for the passage of an army. Ia winter it is totally impassable.: CORUNNA, OCT. 22.—The :Messenger has arrived from Madrid, with au answer from the Junta, au thorizing the landing of the troops ; the disem barkation will commence to-morrow. Sir .JOl-111 Moons's army commcnced its march from Lisbon on the sth inst. The evacuation of Bilboa by the French is_con fircnO. They are retreating coastways from Gen taria, two leagues on this scle. Su:Sebastian's. Since writing the abovelv - I• have been informed that the 4iseolharkation will not take place till :Uon day, and then only partially. ST. ANDZRO, OCT. io.—Titeliishop has received an express, with the Agreeable intelligence that 40‘3,. brave Spanish troops have entered Vittoria, with 2 considerable loss indeed ; but they have entered it. To-morrow or next, day there will be a solemn Te Deuni, to which General LEITH and his Staff are invited. SANTANDER, OCT. 6.—According to advices which have been received here, it appears that the French have quitted Bilboa a second time, leaving a Garrison of from sto 600 men. The French army, not withstanding the exaggerated reinforcements which are said to have arrived, does not exceed 43,000 men. Great part of these have fallen back towards Pampebana and Vittoria. In Esteili there are 1000, which are the advanced guard of those in Pampeluna. (Oviedo Gazette, Oct. 1 5.) CORUN NA, OCT. 19. —Yesterday arrived here an Extraordinary Courier from thet Army of Biscay, with the interesting intelligence that the French had evacuated Bilboa, and that our head-quarters were there. They write from Lisbon that the English, in number 14,000, with 4000 Spanish troops which were there, have embarked for Catalonia, to assist the brave CatalouianS, with which reinforcement it is very probable they have expelled the French rabble, which, miler the command of their leader Luccoi, has so long oppressed the Capital of that Principality.—(Coranna Gazette.) ARANJLTEZ, OCT. 1.2.—1 n consideration of the eminent services rendered to the Country by Don joszpa PALA.I.OX Y MELZI, during the siege and blockade of the Clty of Saragossa, -‘vhittli he so glo riously defended, with honour to our arms and dis grace to our enemies, anti of the general vote of the inhabitants who proclaimed him Captain General of the Kingdom of Arragon, the Supreme Central and Governing Junta has agreed to promote hint to the rank of Major-General in the Royal Armies, confirming him as Captain-General in the command of the said Kingdom, and President of its Audi ence.—(MAlrid Gazette, Oct. 14.) CORONNA, Ocr. :!o.—Yestetday afternoon ar rived here Ins Britannic Majesty's Sitip the Semira mis, having on board then Excellencies the Marquis DE LA RomANA and Mr. FRERE. The latter is in vested with the character of Ambassador from the English Government to the Supreme Central Junta. This morning their . Excellencies lauded under a salute from the batteries and ships in the harbour. They were greeted with " Vivas," by a numerous popu lace, who took the mules from the carriage, and drew it, amidst the greatest acclamations, to the Government House. It is thought that Mr. FRER'S will set out in a day or two for Madrid. The Semiramis also brings a million of dollars, for the supply of the Spanish Army. A general nation is ordered to take place this evening, in 10- nour of the illustrious guests. BILBOA, OCT. 13.—His Excellency Don Joacxlrt BLAKE reports from this town, and under this day's date, to the Council of the Kingdom, • that General MERLIN, fearful of the movements made by our arty, precipitately evacuated Bilboa. Our advanced guard took 20 prisoners. The best measures had . been adopted . to cut off the retreat of the said Ge neral and his corps of 5000, and to make them prisoners, and this measure was on the point of being carried into etfeel, had not the enemy, informed of our movements, retreated at break of day, carrying otf his artillery, by the way of Mon dragon, and leaving in the town a small corps which. brought up his rear, and fell back as our army advanced. One Officer, a Serjeant, and 18 men were taken prisoners, and some killed. DECLARATION OF A FRENCH OFFICER TAKEN PRI SONER ON THE 12T11 OCTOBER, WHEN GENERAL MEIMIN'EVACUATED BILBOA. QUERIES.---Your name ?—Answer, FRANCIS Jo- SEPIi ESCATIER.—Your age ? .Twenty-three years old ?—Your native place ? Strasburgh.—Who is the General of your division ? MERLIN. What is the name of your regiment ? The Third Legion of Re serve.---What is the strength of your division ? From 4 to 5000 men, all infantry, with the ex ception of 80 horse.—To what army does MER LIN'S division belong? MERLIN'S division forms part of the army commanded by Marshal NEY.— What service has that division performed since it evacuated Bilboa the first time ?—The 20th Sep tember it left Bilboa, compelled by the Spanish troops, and retreated to Durango : its advanced posts were first at Guardhicho, and on the 24th - at Mon dragon ; where, on the 24th and 26th, a reinforce ment of 8000 men arrived. On the 27th the troops left Durango, under the •ordef of Marshal NEY, and returned to Bilboa. They immediately occupied the heights of Moro and Achurri whh 850 men, while the rest took post on the left of the high road. The light troops, grenadiers, horse chasseurs, and the Nea politan guards and dragoons, direaed their march to the town. On the 28th, Marshal NEY detached a strong body of horse to observe tl.e movement of the Spanish Army the French remaining in the same position. On the 29th, Gen. MERLIN march ed with 2000 men to occupy the heights of Mara- babe and Llodio, 'where he remaineii till the Ist of 06tober, by order of :Marshal NEY, who marched to Vittoria with 8.00 men : the following day he re turned to Bilboa, leaving some advanced posts in the former places. At what o'clock did MERLIN'S division leave Bilboa the 12th inst. and for what occasion MERLIN'S division began to evacuate Bilboa on tbet 11th at night, and continued doing so on the 12th, at break of day, leaving only some advanced posts in the town. The French evacuated Bilboa; they expea.ed to be attacked by the Spanish troops. How were you taken prisoner ?, I was taken pri. soner by the Spanish troops, near the Bridge of Galdocana, where my detachment was posted to cover the retreat of the other corps. What is the opiniou of the French Officers and soldiers respeEting the present War ? The French Officers think it unjust, arid caused by the ambition Of BUONAPARTE ; the whole Nation is of the same opinion, but the soldiers are always satisfied, if they are allowed to rob, because they do not reflea on the calamities of War. Is King foserit considered by the Army as a good General, and has he got any strong party among the, French ? King jOSEPII does not possess any military talents, and never commands an Army; but the French respe& him on accGunt of the meekness of his character, and because he is brother of the Ern peror,—(Corunna Diary OF. 9,Q..) AGREI3.I., OcT. 9.—The Army of Castile, 12,000 strong, 1000 of which are excellent cavalry, marched this day from this town for Logrono.—(ldem.) BALMASEDA, OCT. 13.-.— JOSEPH BUONAPARTi IS iii Orchandiano, and 6000 French troops occupy the heights of Begona. Two battalions of Toledo entered Bilboa yesterday.—(ldem.) MADRID, OCT. 15.-It is reported here, that the armies of Castile and Andalusia have advanced and are in Navarre. • The French.have made retrograde movements in the Province of Alava, and occupy a line of fifteen miles in extent, reaching as far as Pampeluna. We are also assured that 3000 troops from Majorca have landed in Catalonia, including cavalry. COBUNNA, Ocr. 22.-By the Portuguese Mail, we have received intelligence that the division of the Marquis DE VALADARES continued on the 13th in Oporto, whither it was called from Carballo,where it halted, to assist in disarming the French who came' from Ahnida ; but on the arrival of our Troops the whole business was done. Letters from St. Andero state, that the troops ar rived there from the North were landed on the gth, loth, and 1 tth iust. and were reviewed on the fol lowing day. The military appearance and skill of these warriors being universally admired, it is a mat ter of sincere regret that, from a want of some indis pensable articles with which they might easily have been supplied by the generosity of that commercial town, they are not yet able to join our armies. Yesterday arrived in this.. Port the English Packet Royal Dispatch, Capt. ITARats, from Falmouth, af ter five days passage. TUDELA, OCT. s.—The French who are in this Kingdom, and occupy the points of Caperoso, Qlite, Tafallo, Pamplona, and Estella, amount to about 20,000 men, and 12,000 men are in Vittoria. Should not the latter make haste to return to Fran*, they will be completely surrounded by our troops, who are approaching for that purpose from all quarters. A beginning has been made in this Kingdom to enlist all men from 17 to 40 years of age, who all, without exception, enter the service with the ut most readiness and, satisfaaion, on account of the justice of our cause. Con u NNA,OCT. I g.—By his Majesty'sCabinetCou rier, Don JUAN LESQUERRE, who_ arrived here yester day from Madrid, which he left on the 15th. intelli gence has been received that Don PEDRO CEVALLOS has been confirmed by the Supreme Central Junta of Government, in the Office of Principal Secretary of State, Don BENITO RAMON De HERMIDA has been appointed Minister of Justice ; Don ANTONIO CORNELY FERRAZ, Minister of War; Don ANTO• NIO BECANO, Minister of the Marine; and Don Fi:ANCISCO SAAVEDRA, Minister of Finance. • MALAGA, OCT. B.—Letters from Merida, of the 29th ult. confirm the intelligence that the French have evacuated both helves and Fort Lippe, and that Portugal is therefore completely cleared from the common enemy. The Spanish, English, and Portuguese troops, who have so gallantly defeated them in that country, are now ready to march to this country, and do the same here. VALENCIA, OCT. .—The Council of Govern ment of this Kingdom received, by the last mail, the following official reports from Cdunt CONTAMINA and Prince Pio, Deputies to the Central Junta : " The Supreme Central Junta, attending to the organization of the Army with all the solicitude and zeal which this important subjeet requires, has been pleased to resolve, that four armies shall be formed ; Anlely, one of the left under -the orders of the I Marquis DE LA ROMANA, which in the interim is to •' remain under the command of Don JoAcnnsi BLAKE; one of.ti e cent-e, under t:•e orjers of* Cip . l;n-Gl , - nerf.tl Don XAVIER CASTANOS ; tine of the right, un der the command of Don JUAN MIGUi;L. VIcES j and one of reserve, in At ragon, to be commanded by Don JOSEF PALAFOX, Captain-General of that King dom.—(Corunna Gazette, of O. SAN VLCENTE DE LA BARQUERA, OCT. 3.-.—The army of Asturias is passing through this place, IP divisions of 1000 men each, to join the army of General BLAME. The fourth division passed through to-day, and divisions will continue passing to the amount of 10.000 men. BADA4O± OCT. Ptovince waits with anxiety the Moment when it shall see its frontier free from the invasion of its enemies, to put is motion its army of 12,000 infantry, 1100 cavalry, and Go pieces of cannon. It is under the command of General Dor: iostr GALLtrzo, and will soon. march to incorporate itself with the armies of the , other Provinces. We natter ourselves that these troops will add new laurels to those gained by their illustrious ancestors. Already have they given unequivocal proofs of their valour and spirit, in the different encounters they have had with the French in the neighbourhood of Yelves, and' in the san guinary a&ion of Evora, with thedivis:u of General► LOISON, consisting of 8000 men. M LS. ARRIVtD-1 Corunna, 2 Dublin. Duz—r Gottenburgh, 3 Waterford. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DA V AT TWELVE O'CLOCK. Consols - . 611 Red. Ann. - 65; i Uranium s THE SUN. .•)1:71 SOLE] QJZS DICiRL lALSIP4 AUDLAT ? , ', \ •ii • • LONEON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1808, We this morning received Spanish Papers to the 23 d lust. and the intelligence which they bring is of the most gratifying nature. After a most judicious disposition of their forces, the Spanish Commander s have begykri to advance, for the purpose of driving the French from the strong position which they oc" copied, and - i•lieir efforts have hitherto been attended with complete success. The French have evacuated Bitboa, and General BLAKE'S army has taken i:tor session of that City ; and it is added, that the Spa' niards have entered Vittoria. We should be eIC' tremely happy to be able to confirm the latter part of this account, but we fear it. is unfounded , The intelligence frotri St. Audero comes down Pr'' the sitd inst. and at that time no account of the car tare of Vittoria had reached that place. A division of 300 u men belonging to tiP e army the Marquis DE KOMANA had marched to joie Ge" neral BLAZR, and the remainder were expelled mediately to follow. The Marquis himself and Mr. FIUME arrived at St. Andero, in the Semiramis', on the 19th instant. They were received with the most enthusiastic marks of joy. An order bad reached Corunna from Madrid for the landing °C Sir DAVID - BAIRD'S army; and it is added, that ac' counts had reached Corunna from Lisbon, that A body of 14,000 British troops, and 4000 Spaniards, had embarked at Lisbon for Catalonia. This state ment, we have reason to believe, is not quite Co r ' red. It is true that 4000 Spaniards have embarked to the Tagus for Catalonia, and that they were s u PP lied with an immense quantity of arms and °cll.. , e bea munition for the use of the Patriots ; but lieve that the British Troops have not em ba rk It gives US the most sincere pleasure to find, th at the authority of the Supreme Central Junta is olliversani acknowledged throughout Spain, and that the Most perfea unanimity of sentiment prevails in every pa rt of the Kingdom. WE understand that the Cabinet yesterday tinallY determined upon the Answer" to the Proposition recently received from the Emperor ALExANDsg and BUONAPARTE. It was • sent off last night by Mr. SHAINE the Messenger. We have already laid before our Readers soar, statements, exhibiting the surplus of the Conw il d dated Fund on the 10th of October last, as compa re with its amount at the corresponding period of t",, last year ; and we have now the satisfaction of s hov e, ing the progressive prosperity of the Revenue, by t h e following account of the total nett Receipts of th e Permanent Taxes in the years and quarters, end' the loth Otober 1807 and t bOB Quarters to Ott. Years to Oa• Permanent 2 1807. 1808. 1807. iS ° P' "7 A 2 , Taxes. 549,834,366 1 50,009,372 I 37,12 t,iSS .3 8 ,9 TheNyai Taxes were not all in full colleaio n itl the:l44,year, nor are they even yet completely se U, Their amount, however, in the year to Odobet last, is 21,055,867 1 .; their estimated produce fa r , the year, ,to end the sth April, 1809, 21,200,0001. Yesterday a Council was held at the Fore i g n } Office. There were no less than ten Men.oers os his Majesty's Cabinet present. Their deliberati°rlas commence,H at half after one, and the meeting A t not dissolvAl until it was nearly six o'clock. 4 ; night iMr. MILLs, one of his Majesty's Mess'3)ger, was sent off with dispatches to the Court of W.c:, holm ; and , Mr. SYLVESTER, another of his : N/1.3 .' ty'3, Messengers, set out for Spain.